What to Expect When You’re Not Expecting a Tax Refund

Tax season is a time of big wins and losses. You probably went into it confidently this year, since it seemed like even five-year-old lemonade-stand proprietors would be getting a refund. But then you saw the numbers on TurboTax plummet and you faced the facts: you will owe money. Keep reading to learn more about what to expect during this challenging time.

THE FIRST MONTH: AN OVERVIEW

Week 1: Your dread is just the size of your small, unmanicured fingernail. The money you owe doesn’t really seem like that big of a deal.

Week 2: The dread now measures five inches, about the size of an avocado toast. It’s becoming hard to ignore.

Week 3: The dread is the size of a Judith Leiber couture evening bag shaped like a martini glass—the kind that even someone with a sizable refund shouldn’t buy.

Week 4: It’s basically the size of a full-grown baby who keeps you up at night. You’ll probably be managing it for at least the next eighteen years.

WHAT YOU MAY BE FEELING

Physically

• Fatigue: Your body may feel sluggish, but that probably has more to do with your avoidance of your treadmill desk than your lack of a refund.

• Nausea: Owing money can turn your stomach sour. You may want to avoid buying eight-dollar lattes because of the smell, and the fact that the barista just cut your credit card in half.

• Frequent urination: That is not about a lack of a tax refund. Call your doctor.

Emotionally

• Jealousy: Why are your friends heading out to a hot-tub party on a yacht while you are headed back to the plasma bank?

• Anger: Couldn’t you have done something different in 2017? Something other than buying a ten-year membership to a goat-yoga studio?

• Confusion: Don’t you actually believe in taxes to pay for things like education and making the U.S. more like the magical land of Norway? Why does contributing to society make you feel the sads?

• Frustration: The world is awful. If you had received a tax refund, you could have bought another pet chinchilla, and that would have raised your spirits.

WHAT YOU MAY BE WONDERING

“Is it O.K. for me to drink alcohol when I’m not expecting a tax refund?”

Yes, but you’ll want to stick to a bottom-shelf vodka for the next few months. Perhaps the awful taste will help remind you to put aside more money for taxes next year.

“Is it normal to feel tired all the time when I’m not experiencing bouts of rage?”

Yes.

“How will I feel once I actually pay off the money I owe?”

You may experience a range of emotions, including joy, exhaustion, and a craving for a pitcher of margaritas.

“What are quarterly taxes?”

That’s a question that many people are still working hard to better understand.

“When will the nausea go away?”

For some people it only lasts a few weeks. Others may find that it persists until they learn about someone who owes even more money than they do.